Mobile commerce, meet Google Android, embedded within the innards of an HTC brick of technological utilitarianism. It's nowhere as sleek as the iPhone (its media-driven competitor) and the UI itself isn't as intuitive at first. But after playing around with the device at a local T-mobile store near Mediachase HQ, I was drawn in more at the potential of Google Android and what it means for mobile commerce in the future.
Main reasons are:
- The Google Chrome lite browser, based on the same rendering engine as Apple's Safari browser, is powerful and "desktop-like" enough to browse online stores. Although, after fiddling around with the G1 hardware, the browser experience isn't as smooth as Apple's offering (but it's on par with the likes of Opera Mobile/Mini).
- Through the G1, you can purchase downloadable music from Amazon and download applications through T-Mo's application store. Maybe Amazon can expand from just digital music to its entire catalog for ordering and purchasing right from your phone.
- The Android platform isn't exclusive to a single hardware vendor. Android is available for any hardware manufacturer to embed into their devices, potentially expanding its market visibility. That means more users, multiple networks, and greater customization of the platform as it matures.
- It has copy and paste. For, you know, copying and pasting.
Web developers will have to optimize their sites for any smartphone browser anyway. As desktop-class mobile software becomes more prevalent, however, more laptops will be put on the wayside for pocket-sized Internet-enabled devices.
After all, it's easier to pull out your phone than your 10 pound behemoth in a pinch.
Posted
Oct 22 2008, 04:15 PM
by
Richly Chheuy